Kitchens of distinction

7. Appliance yourself

Besides the chef, probably the hardest working aspect of the kitchen are the appliances. This is one area where you won’t want to compromise in terms of quality, as the oven/cooktop, fridge, and dishwasher will be in frequent if not constant use. And besides the basics, to make your kitchen as efficient as possible, there are now many smart home options available; a bit of work in the planning stage could revolutionise your life.

8. You have the power

Planning where power outlets need to be is of paramount importance, and not just for the large appliances. You’ll also need to have outlets for items including toasters, coffee machines, and smaller appliances that are only used occasionally - blenders, food processors, bread makers for example. Think about USB sockets too, so you can view online recipes, or watch YouTube while cooking.

9. Lighten up

Any space can be transformed through the clever use of lighting, and that’s especially true in the kitchen. Again, in the planning stage think about how the kitchen will be used and format the lighting accordingly. Task lighting is the most important as it’ll make food prep far easier, but also think about ambient lighting for those occasions you don’t want your kitchen to look like an industrial facility.

10. Foot to the floor

5. Island life

A kitchen island can become the hub of the house, a multi-use space around which the family will congregate. From food preparation, home work or home office, a breakfast bar, or just a place to hangout, it will be a much used addition. An island can also provide answers to your storage problems, incorporating shelving and drawers, or perhaps for bottles of wine.

6. Counter offensive

Perhaps one of the hardest elements to get right, but so vital to the end product, is the choice of finish for counter-tops. Besides the aesthetic appeal, they need to be particularly hard-wearing, which is why materials such as granite are largely favoured by the professionals. As ever, shop around, and pay particular attention to the cost of installation.

Like everything else, there are multiple options available when it comes to kitchen flooring. Something hardwearing and easy to clean is ideal. Stone or tile can be great, but are at the more expensive end of the spectrum. Pre-finished wood, or even wood look laminates, will give a sophisticated and durable result. Ultimately it depends on your budget, and what works with your overall design.

Planning ahead

As with all projects, the planning of a new garden is always the best place to start.

It’s no different to building a house, putting a recipe together or even trying to DIY kitchen joinery. It’s important to know where you are going, and to allow for all elements of the design to be worked on, improved and then finalised before the task is even started.

Such a lot of time and money can be wasted on bad advice and unthought out ideas, so think ahead and engage people that can help you to achieve the end result, and in the time frame you are thinking about (it’s always before Christmas).

Landscape design is very much about bringing the client, the site, and the designer together to create a garden that is truly inspirational, functional, and fits its intended use and clients wishes.

This process takes time, and in reality, can even take years to get to the end theme intended.

In today’s environment with many designers and landscape contractors busy, it is important to think ahead in this planning process.

Typically, the process starts with an onsite consultation. There is often an initial cost to meet with the client and to look over the site.

Once the brief is finalised, the landscape architect or designer will put

Roll out the green carpet

The only turf nursery in the region, Readylawn Dunedin has been producing instant turf for almost 30 years.

New homes are being built throughout coastal Otago and Southland (the areas Readylawn Dunedin covers), and landscaping is now seen as a normal part of the build.

‘‘Nothing finishes a house build project off better than a lush green lawn,’’ franchisee Fred Doherty says.

Along with new builds, there are always clients wanting to do work on their existing section, tidying up damage or changing gardens and lawns around.

Turf can be laid at any time of the year, and bare dirt can be turned into green lawn instantly.

Spring is typically busy, and there is also a rush at Christmas to get things looking great for the holidays.

Readylawn Dunedin produces hardwearing, good-looking ryegrass based ‘Sports Turf’ — a proven blend for the southern climate that copes with a bit of backyard wear-and-tear.

For do-it-yourselfers, thorough site preparation is the key to success, and Readylawn Dunedin will happily talk you through the process. Customers can pick up their requirements from their site in Outram (ring first), or they can deliver to your place for a small extra charge.

Readylawn is the modern solution to your new lawn requirements.

Check out readylawn.co.nz, or call for a no obligation chat about your project, on 027 228 8190.

together a rough sketch of the proposed design and materials palette. These are called concept plans and are not detailed specification plans, but rather an overall concept of the proposed garden. Depending on the size of the project and designer used, these plans can cost anywhere upwards of $3000.

Once the garden concept is finalised there may also be more details and added costs in building specification and planting plans; so, as you can see planning is important to ensure the process runs smoothly.

From here it’s a matter of who is carrying out the garden build, so if you have a landscape contractor in mind, they will need to price out the work and book in the build, which under the current environment could be up to six months ahead.

Depending on the design and the build, these projects can be costly, so having a budget in mind before the project starts is a great point to start in the design process. Think of it this way, it’s no different to adding onto your house, or building a garage, it’s quite an investment, and as such having a realistic budget will allow the project to be carried out with quality materials and with professionals.

(Wayne Butson, Design + Garden Landscapes Ltd)